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United States Patent |
5,530,300
|
Powers
,   et al.
|
June 25, 1996
|
Extended range wired remote control circuit
Abstract
A range extender module for extending the range capability of a barrier
control system comprising a low voltage AC control unit which receives low
voltage AC control signals conveyed by wires to input terminals thereof
from a plurality of remotely located switches and responds to such AC
control signals by controlling the barrier. The controlled barrier may be,
for example, a garage door or a driveway gate. The range extender module
is inserted into the wires between the low voltage AC control unit and the
remote switches and includes a source of DC voltage, which is used to
energize the formerly AC energized switches and responds to DC input
signals created by operator interaction with the switches by selectively
gating low voltage AC control signals to appropriate input terminals of
the low voltage AC control unit for controlling the barrier. The use of DC
voltage to energize the remote switches avoids problems caused by the use
of low voltage AC signals over wires which exhibit a significant reactive
component of impedance.
Inventors:
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Powers; Russell L. (Willowbrook, IL);
Turner; Doug R. (Arlington Heights, IL);
Chang; James S. (Arlington Heights, IL)
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Assignee:
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The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (Elmhurst, IL)
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Appl. No.:
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400182 |
Filed:
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March 6, 1995 |
Current U.S. Class: |
307/125; 307/117; 307/141; 340/825.69 |
Intern'l Class: |
E05B 047/00 |
Field of Search: |
341/176
340/825.32,825.72
455/114,63,119-121
307/117,125,140-141
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
4771218 | Sep., 1988 | McGee | 318/16.
|
4878052 | Oct., 1989 | Schulze | 340/825.
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5029662 | Jul., 1991 | Pena | 180/167.
|
5281970 | Jan., 1994 | Blaese | 341/176.
|
Other References
Catalog page and dealer price list: "New Productsion Offered.Pneumatic Edge
Controls"; pricing eff. Feb. 1, 1992; MMTC, Inc., Chester, New Jersey
07930.
|
Primary Examiner: Wong; Peter S.
Assistant Examiner: Krishnan; Aditya
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/010,687,
filed Jan. 28, 1993 now abandoned.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Apparatus for controlling low voltage AC equipment at a first location
from a remote second location over control conductors which exhibit a
reactive component of impedance which is too large to convey low voltage
AC power to activate said low voltage AC equipment, comprising:
a low voltage AC source having a first terminal and a second terminal
producing low voltage AC power;
means at said first location for converting a portion of said low voltage
AC power to DC voltage;
switching means at said first location responsive to direct current for
closing a normally open contact set, said switching means having a pair
input terminals for receiving said direct current;
means for connecting said low voltage AC equipment in series with said
normally open contact set to said low voltage AC source;
a remote switch at said second location; and
means for connecting said remote switch in series with said means for
converting low voltage AC power to DC voltage, the input terminals of said
switching means and the control conductors.
2. In apparatus for controlling the position of a barrier at a first
location in response to low voltage AC from a low voltage AC source
controlled by a DC voltage over a pair of control conductors by at least
one manually controlled switch at a second location remote from the first
location, a modular control unit for extending the distance between said
first location and said second location at which effective wired control
can occur, comprising:
means for converting a portion of the low voltage AC power output of said
low voltage AC source to said DC voltage;
at least one DC responsive relay having a relay control coil having a first
coil terminal and a second coil terminal for receiving said DC voltage and
having a contact set controlled by said relay control coil in response to
application of said DC voltage to control the flow of AC power;
means for connecting a first polarity of said DC voltage to said first coil
terminal and for connecting a second polarity of said DC voltage to said
second coil terminal in series with said pair of said control conductors
and said manually controlled switch; and
means for connecting low voltage AC from said low voltage AC source to a
low voltage AC control unit at said first location for the control of the
position of said barrier including said normally open contact set of said
DC responsive relay.
3. A range extender module for extending an effective wired control range
of a barrier control system having a low voltage AC control unit which
receives low voltage AC control signals conveyed by wires to input
terminals thereof from a plurality of remotely located switches and
responds to such AC control signals by controlling the barrier,
comprising:
a source of low voltage AC;
a source of DC voltage;
means for connecting the source of DC voltage to the plurality of switches
to produce DC input signals;
means for receiving DC input signals selectively transmitted by operator
interaction with the plurality of switches; and
means responsive to the DC input signals for selectively connecting low
voltage AC signals from the low voltage source to the input terminals of
the low voltage AC control unit.
4. A range extender module for extending the range capability of a barrier
control system comprising a low voltage AC control unit which receives low
voltage AC control signals conveyed by wires to input terminals thereof
from a plurality of remotely located switches and responds to such AC
control signals by controlling the barrier in accordance with claim 3 for
extending the range capability of a barrier control system further
comprising a low voltage AC producing means and wherein said source of low
voltage AC comprises a wired connection to said low voltage AC producing
means.
5. A range extender module for extending the range capability of a barrier
control system comprising a low voltage AC control unit which receives low
voltage AC control signals conveyed by wires to input terminals thereof
from a plurality of remotely located switches and responds to such AC
control signals by controlling the barrier in accordance with claim 4
wherein said source of DC voltage comprises means for rectifying and
filtering low voltage AC from the low voltage AC producing means.
6. A range extender module for extending the range capability of a barrier
control system comprising a low voltage AC control unit which receives low
voltage AC control signals conveyed by wires to input terminals thereof
from a plurality of remotely located switches and responds to such AC
control signals by controlling the barrier in accordance with claim 3
wherein said source of DC voltage comprises means for converting
commercial AC into a low voltage DC.
7. A range extender module for extending the range capability of a barrier
control system comprising a low voltage AC control unit which receives low
voltage AC control signals conveyed by wires to input terminals thereof
from a plurality of remotely located switches and responds to such AC
control signals by controlling the barrier in accordance with claim 3
wherein said means for connecting the source of DC voltage comprises DC
output terminal means connected to said plurality of switches via the
wires previously connecting said plurality of switches to said low voltage
AC control unit.
8. A range extender module for extending the range capability of a barrier
control system comprising a low voltage AC control unit which receives low
voltage AC control signals conveyed by wires to input terminals thereof
from a plurality of remotely located switches and responds to such AC
control signals by controlling the barrier in accordance with claim 7
wherein said means for receiving DC input signals comprises a plurality of
DC input terminals connected to said plurality of switches via the wires
previously connecting said plurality of switches to said low voltage AC
control unit.
9. A range extender module for extending the range capability of a barrier
control system comprising a low voltage AC control unit which receives low
voltage AC control signals conveyed by wires to input terminals thereof
from a plurality of remotely located switches and responds to such AC
control signals by controlling the barrier in accordance with claim 3
wherein said means for selectively connecting low voltage AC signals
selectively connects low voltage AC signals to said low voltage AC control
unit over the wires used to connect said switches to said low voltage AC
control unit.
10. A range extender module for extending the range capability of a barrier
control system comprising a low voltage AC control unit which receives low
voltage AC control signals conveyed by wires to input terminals thereof
from a plurality of remotely located switches and responds to such AC
control signals by controlling the barrier in accordance with claim 9
wherein said source of DC voltage comprises means for converting
commercial AC voltage into a DC voltage.
11. A range extender module for extending the range capability of a barrier
control system comprising a low voltage AC control unit which receives low
voltage AC control signals conveyed by wires to input terminals thereof
from a plurality of remotely located switches and responds to such AC
control signals by controlling the barrier in accordance with claim 3
wherein said means responsive to DC input signals comprises a plurality of
DC responsive relays each comprising a normally open contact set and said
plurality of relays respond to DC input signals by connecting low voltage
AC signals to said low voltage AC control unit by closing and opening
their respective contact sets.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to remotely controlling AC operated barrier moving
systems in response to low voltage AC control signals conveyed by wire
from a remote location and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus
for improving the control signal range capability between the remote
location and the barrier moving system.
Existing barrier control systems, such as garage door or driveway gate
systems, typically include a control unit which responds to low voltage AC
input signals to open, close, or stop the movement of a driveway gate or
garage door. In a normal installation, the control unit at the location of
the barrier is connected to one or more switches remotely located in, for
example, a residence some distance from a gate to be moved. Low voltage
AC, e.g., 24 volts, is applied over wires from the control unit to the
remote switches and selectively returned over wires to the control unit by
manual operation of the switches. Frequently the wire installed with the
system is of small gauge, e.g., 22 gauge, which is run to and from the
remote location in a closely spaced bundle and perhaps in a grounded
conduit.
Such small gauge wire installation serves to keep the system cost low and
provides adequate service for limited distances between the control unit
and the remotely located switches. The AC operated control unit, however,
requires a minimum of low voltage AC power at its signaling inputs in
order to properly respond to control signals. The small gauge, closely
spaced wires used in a normal system exhibit a significant reactive
component of impedance which reduces the power available at the input of
the control unit for control signals. When the distance between the remote
switches and the control unit is too long, the available power may not be
sufficient for reliable control. It has been found that low voltage AC
controlled systems wired as above-described operate satisfactorily over
distances of only approximately 80 to 100 feet. Also, over the lifetime of
such a barrier control system, aging and possible deterioration of the
equipment may reduce the operating distance and make a formerly operating
system non-operational. Installing wiring having a reduced reactive
component of impedance in new systems and similarly refitting previously
installed systems may improve the range of reliable operation but such
greatly increases system cost and inconvenience of installation.
A need exists for arrangements which can increase the distance capability
between a low voltage AC barrier control unit and remote switches simply
and cost-effectively.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This need is met and a technical advance is achieved in accordance with the
present invention, which provides a cost-effective way of extending remote
control distance capability in a manner which provides for easy and rapid
installation. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, a single module
is provided which is connected by existing wiring between a low voltage AC
control unit and associated remote switches. The module includes means for
converting available low voltage AC to low voltage DC which powers the
remote switches. The selective closing of the remote switches returns DC
signals to the extender module, which responds thereto by sending
corresponding low voltage AC signals to the low voltage AC barrier control
unit. The movement and position of the barrier are then controlled in
response to the low voltage AC signals. By providing low voltage DC to the
remote switches, the reactive impedance component of existing wiring is
not a factor and the range capability of the system is increased. Further,
the use of a single module with a limited number of required connections
to provide all necessary functions for range extension makes installation,
whether new or refit, a simple and inexpensive task.
In the case of existing systems, the range extender module may be located
near the low voltage AC barrier control unit to convert the existing
wiring to the remote switches to conveying DC signals. Such an
installation is desirable when the system no longer has the range
capability it had when originally installed. When it is desired to extend
the distance between the remote switches and the control unit, the range
extender module may be connected at the location previously occupied by
the remote switches and the distance between the range extender module and
newly placed remote switches can be added to the total distance between
those remote switches and the AC control unit.
In the embodiment, the range extender module includes a plurality of DC
responsive relays, each of which is energized and de-energized by manually
controlling a corresponding one of the remote switches. When a given DC
relay is energized, its then closed contacts gate low voltage AC to
appropriate terminals of the low voltage AC control unit. The low voltage
AC control unit responds to the low voltage AC signals forwarded by the
range extender module in the same manner as if they came directly from the
remote switches.
The range extender module uses a supply of low voltage AC signals to
selectively forward to the low voltage AC control unit. When such low
voltage AC is available from the low voltage AC control unit, the low
voltage is provided at the range extender module by wire connections to
the low voltage AC control unit. Alternatively, when the range extender
module is located remotely from the low voltage AC control unit and wired
connection to its low voltage AC power is not practical, the range
extender module contains a separate converter, such as a voltage reduction
transformer, to convert commercial voltages, e.g., 110 volts AC or 220
volts AC, to the low voltage AC needed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of prior low voltage AC controlled barrier moving
system;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a low voltage AC controlled barrier movement
system including a range extender module; and
FIG. 3 is a representation of a low voltage AC generating circuit for use
with remoted range extender modules.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 represents a known low voltage AC controlled barrier control system
comprising a barrier control motor 101, a low voltage AC control unit 103
with a plurality of barrier sensors 105 and three control switches 107,
108 and 109 at a remote location 102. AC control unit 103 includes the
intelligence of the system and responds to low voltage AC input signals
from the switches 107-109 by opening, closing and stopping the barrier.
Although not shown in detail in FIG. 1, barrier sensors 105 include open
and closed limit switches, and obstruction sensors which are powered by
the low voltage AC of the AC control unit 103. AC control unit 103
responds to signals from the barrier sensors 105 to properly and safely
control barrier movement.
AC control unit 103 receives a line voltage such as 110 volts AC at
terminals 111 and converts a portion thereof to 24 volts AC in a power
converter 113. The 24 volt AC is produced between terminals 115 and 116
and is used to power the barrier sensors 105, the remote switches 107-109
and the control unit 103. In FIG. 1, low voltage AC terminal 115 is not
shown to be connected. However, it is connected internal to AC control
unit 103 to implement the barrier control function. Although not
specifically needed in the system of FIG. 1, the conductor 115 may also be
run to the remote location 102 of switches 107-109. As shown in FIG. 1,
voltage from AC conductor 116 is connected to one terminal of each of the
three manually operated remote switches 107-109. Switch 107 is a normally
closed switch which disconnects 24 volts AC from a STOPAC conductor 117
when the switch 107 is pressed. Remote switches 108 and 109 are normally
open switches which connect 24 volts AC to a respective one of conductors
118 and 119 when they are pressed.
AC control unit 103 responds to input AC signals on conductor 119 by
opening the barrier responsive to signals from barrier sensors 105.
Similarly, AC control unit 103 responds to input AC signals on conductor
118 by closing the barrier responsive to signals from barrier sensors 105.
If the barrier is moving when low voltage AC is removed from conductor
117, the motion of the barrier is stopped by the AC control unit 103.
Control of the barrier is exercised by selectively applying 110 volts AC
to motor 101 via an open conductor 121, a close conductor 122, and a
common conductor 123.
One known system of the type described above is the Model 2000HT,
manufactured by The Chamberlain Group, Inc. Such a low voltage AC
controlled system performs admirably. However, due to the reactive
impedance in conductors 115-119, the low voltage AC input signals may be
too attenuated by the time they are returned to AC control unit 103, to be
properly responded to. This limits the distance (D1, FIG. 1) between
remote switches 107-109 and the AC control unit 103 to approximately 80 to
100 feet.
FIG. 2 shows a barrier control system which includes a range extender
module 200, to extend the distance capability between the switches 107-109
and AC control unit 103, in accordance with the present invention. In FIG.
2, components having the same numerical designation as components in FIG.
1 are substantially identical to their counterparts in FIG. 1. Range
extender module 200 includes a 24 volt DC power supply 204 and three
relays 201, 202 and 203. Relay 201 comprises a normally open contact set
207 and a DC sensitive coil 210, relay 202 comprises a normally open
contact set 208 and a DC sensitive coil 211, and relay 203 comprises a
normally open contact set 209 and a DC sensitive coil 212. 24 volts AC
power supply 204 comprises a diode bridge 228 connected to receive 24
volts AC power over conductors 115 and 116 and to apply its positive and
negative outputs to conductors 216 and 215, respectively, via a capacitive
filter 225. The positive output of power supply 204 is connected by wire
216 in common to one terminal of each of the switches 107, 108 and 109.
The negative output terminal of power supply 204 is connected via a
conductor 229 to one terminal of each of the three DC relay coils 210, 211
and 212.
In FIG. 2, remote switch 107 is normally closed while remote switches 108
and 109 are normally open. Whenever switch 109 is pressed, a DC voltage is
applied across coil 210, causing normally open contact 207 to close.
Contact set 207 is connected by conductor 230 in series between 24 volt AC
conductor 116 and OPENAC conductor 119. Closing contact set 207 applies 24
volt OPENAC signal to AC control unit 103 via the conductor 119, to which
AC control unit 103 will appropriately respond. Relay 202 is connected in
a substantially similar fashion to relay 201 so that when switch 108 is
depressed, a 24 volt AC signal is applied via contact set 208 to the AC
control unit 103 via CLOSEAC conductor 118. It will be remembered that
switch contact 107 is normally closed. Accordingly, relay coil 212 will
normally be energized, causing a continuous 24 volts AC signal to be
applied via contact set 209 and conductor STOPAC 117 to the AC control
unit 103. When switch 107 is pressed, the resulting open circuit causes
contact set 209 to open, which removes the STOPAC signal from conductor
117.
The range extender module 200 may conveniently be placed in close proximity
to the AC control unit 103. Since DC voltage is transmitted to the remote
switches 107-109, the previously encountered problem of reactive impedance
is avoided and the range between the range extender module 200 and the
switches 107-109 can be larger than when AC signaling is employed without
impaired service. Thus, in terms of FIG. 2, the dimension D2 may
advantageously be chosen to be short and the range extender module 200
will provide an extended range D3 between the range extender module and
the switches 107-109.
The range extender module 200 can also be placed remote from AC control
unit 103, provided the length of the conductors 115-119 (D2, FIG. 2) is
within the range capability of the AC control unit 103. For example, if an
existing system places switches 107-109 approximately 75 feet (within the
AC signaling range) of AC control unit 103 and it is desired to extend the
distance between the AC control unit and the switches 107-109 by an
additional 100 feet, the range extender module could be provided at the 75
foot location of the switches (D2=75 feet). The additional range
capability created by range extender module 200 could then be used to
remote switches 107-109 by an additional 100 feet (D3=100 feet) or more.
In certain situations, particularly when the range extender module is to be
connected remotely from AC control unit 103, the low voltage AC on
conductors 115 and 116 may not be available, or may be sufficiently weak
that it cannot be used remotely. In such situations, other sources of DC
voltage for the control of relays 201, 202 and 203 by means of switches
107, 108 and 109 can be employed. In the example shown in FIG. 3, when 24
volts AC is not available at the location of the range extender module
200, power supply 204 could include a transformer to convert ordinary 110
volts AC commercial power to 24 volts AC. When low voltage AC is produced
by the range extender module, it may also be necessary to connect one low
voltage AC terminal to the relay contacts via conductor 230 and to return
the low voltage AC common to the low voltage AC control unit via a
conductor such as 115 or 116.
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